FRUIT FARMING

Contents

Berry-fruit growing was one of the first horticultural
industries to be established in the colony. It reached its
peak in the early 1900s when, to meet a demand for jam fruit,
large areas of raspberries and strawberries were grown in
Nelson, Central Otago, Canterbury, and the Wairarapa
(Wellington). Between the two world wars there was a decline,
due to a combination of disease and economic and climatic
causes. Interest was renewed after improved strawberry
varieties had been introduced in 1950, stimulated by higher
prices for other berries. Present production, though
increasing, does not meet the needs for fresh fruit, fruit
for canning, and for quick freezing and jam making. Raspberry
and other berry pulp for jam making was formerly imported
from Britain, Australia, and Holland. During 1960–61 some
800,000 lb valued at £(N.Z.)48,000 were imported. Imports of
fresh berry fruits and of berry pulp during 1962–63 are set
out in the following table. (There have been no further
imports.)

Berry Fruit and Pulp Imports for Year
1962–63

£(N.Z.)

lb

Berry pulp other than raspberry*

2,994

34,600

Fresh strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, and
blackberries†

1,426

14,900

*From Australia and Holland.

†From Holland.

Berry Growing: Acreage and Average
Production

Area, 1963

Average Production, 1957–63

acres

tons

Raspberries

518

976

Strawberries

364

1,052

Black currants

56

100

Gooseberries

46

107

Boysenberries

33

62

Loganberries

13

38

Totals

1,030

2,335

[Although later figures are not available it would appear
that there has been little change in the averages given here.
Ed.]

Raspberries are grown chiefly in the South Island, mostly
in Nelson and Canterbury. Strawberries are grown in both
Islands, mainly in Auckland and South Canterbury. Black
currants tend to be restricted to Canterbury and Wellington.
Commercial gooseberry production is almost entirely limited
to Wellington. Most of the crop is sold for use in the home.
Raspberries alone are processed in quantity (about 40 per
cent of production), their marketing being organised by
statutory producer committees in the main districts.
Berry-fruit growing is usually associated with other farming
or horticultural work, except for specialised strawberry
growing in Auckland.

Popular varieties include Lloyd George and Marcy
raspberries, Talisman, Red Gauntlet, and Captain Cook
strawberries, Roaring Lion and Farmers Glory gooseberries.
Many varieties of black currants are grown; new plantings
favour Goliath and Cotswold Cross. Major disease problems are
virus of strawberry, raspberry bud moth (Carposina
adreptella), gall mite (Eriophyes ribes) of
black currants, and “dryberry” of boysenberries, recently
identified as downy mildew (Peronospora rubi).
Research on berryfruits is carried out at the Horticultural
Research Station, Levin (Department of Agriculture), Plant
Diseases Division, Auckland (Department of Scientific and
Industrial Research), and Marsden Research Station, Nelson
(Cawthron Institute).

How to cite this page: 'BERRY FRUITS', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966.Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New ZealandURL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/fruit-farming (accessed 26 May 2019)